The Model-Driven Design approach is centered on the use of a model repository and a modelling tool. A drawback of the approach is that the evolution of derived artefacts (such as documents, code tests) requires to go back to the model. This process involves tracing the source element back in the model editor before triggering the update of the artefact. This can reveal quite inefficient and even causing user rejection.
Our talk presents a reusable mechanism matured over 5 years in model-based tooling (actually for requirements engineering) and deployed in international companie.
The tooling enables a back channel from textual artefact to any EMF-based model. It efficiently supports the update process as well as other user stories such as the synchronised in-place editing (e.g. to directly fix typos from the document) and even concept creation (e.g. to support elicitation phase from some source documents and keep traceability)
Our main different features (locate, in-place edit, create) are first demonstrated in the scope of a HTML and Word documents before detailing the technical architecture and the adaptation process for targeting specific EMF-based editors and target document viewers or editors.
Our work still being elaborated to support a wider range of EMF-based tools (e.g. Sirius, Capella) and text processors (especially Open/LibreOffice) but it is available on github and under EPL licence. It is actively being developed with Alstom in the scope of the INOGRAMS project.
